Acetylene-gas generator.



PATENTED'SBPT. 22. 1903.

I. M. CALEB.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

W/T/VESSE'S' YHE scams PEIER? co. PHOTO-H7040? msmnmm. a a

UNITED STATES Patented September 22, 1903.

PATENT V OFFICE.

AC ETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,532, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed October 9, 1902.

T LtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. CALEB, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los' useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Gen-' erators, of which the following is a specification.

'carbid-chamber.

Myinvention relates to that class of acetylene-gas generators in which the gas is produced by the feeding of the calcium carbid into water; and the primary object thereof is to construct an apparatus that will produce the gas as fast as it is needed for use and in which when not needed for use only a very limited quantity of gas is stored.

My invention also contemplates other objects, which will be described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

I accomplish these objects by the mechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in p the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my generator. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the generator, the other parts being in elevation.

In the'drawings, Ais the gas-generator, in the upper portion. of which is the carbid= chamber B, which is separated from the wator-chamber G by a partition D, in shape preferably a downwardly-projecting trun-' cated cone, which forms the bottom of the Said partition has a port D in the bottom thereof for the passage therethrough of the carbid into the water-chamber and forms the carbid-port. The carbid is put into the carbid-chamber through inlet E, which is provided with a removable cover F, held firmly on its seat by means of the screw G in the removable bar H, the ends of which pass into slots, which may be undercut, as shown, in the ears I, aifixed to the walls of the inlet. The carbid-port is held normally closed by a gate J, having a stirrer J affixed to its upper surface to stir the carbid in the chamber on the movement of the gate. This gate is rigidly affixed upon the end of lever K, which passes out through the side of the water-chamber through a suitably-packed fitting L, securely affixed thereto, preferably by riveting and soldering. The lever is secured to the fitting by a small bolt M, which passes therethrough and provides a fulcrum for the lever.

Serial No. 126,621. (No model.)

Surrounding the fitting and a portion of the lever is a 'flexible pipe N, preferably a short piece of rubber or other hose, which is secured-to the fitting by a clamping-band O to form a gastight joint. Within the other end of the pipe -N is a packing-ring P, which makes a gastight joint between the lever and pipe, being held securely in position by a clamping-band R, which surrounds all of said parts and binds them together. To the end of said lever K is pivotally connected a link S, the other end of which is pivotally connected to a lever T, which lever is pivotally connected to the exterior of the gasometer U at a, in which gasometer is mounted the gas-holder V in the usual manner.

Aflixed to the side of the gas-holder is the adjustable contact-arm W, which on the descent of the gas-holder is adapted to depress the free end of lever T, which maybe enlarged, and thereby, through the connecting parts, to open the gate which controls the admission .of carbid from the chamber into the water-chamber of the generator, permitting the carbid to fall into the water, generating gas. This gas passes through the pipe X into the water-chamber of the gasometer, thence up through the same to above the normal water line, and thence downward and terminating in a perforated end X below the water, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, this course being taken for the purpose of cooling and washing the gas- The passage of the gasinto the gas-holder causes the gas-bell to rise, removing the contact-arm W from engagement with the free end of lever '1. Weight y, attached to the end of lever K, then causes the lever to close gate J and the further admission of carbid into the waterchamber of the generator is stopped until the supply of gas in the holder is exhausted enough to cause the contact-arm to again depress lever T, when a fresh supply of carbid is admitted into the water-chamber of the generator. The gas is led to its place of in tended use by service-pipe Z, which pipe passes from the gas-holder down through the bottom. of the water-chamber of the gasometer and then turns and has connected thereto a short piece of pipe I), which terminates in a fitting secured to the bottom of a small water-chamber c, which has a small opening (1 in the top thereof, through which it is filled with water, and which opening permits any excess of water therein to overflow therethrough. The pipe I) is perforated near the bottom thereof by perforations B, so that any tion of the U-shaped guide-rod g and guide the holder in its rise and fall.

In the center of the U-shaped guide is a waste-pipe 72, into the lower end of which the escape-pipe t' enters when the amount of gas contained in the gas-holder raises it high enough to carry the lower end of said escapepipe above the water in the water-chamber of the gasometer. This provision is made to prevent an explosion of the gas holder. When the carbid is exhausted in the carbidchamber, the cover F thereof is removed, the port j in the bottom of the water-chamber is opened, gate 76 on the end of lever-Z being swung downward for that purpose, and the exhausted carbid or ash is permitted to flow out at said port into the sewer or other receptacle (not shown) provided to receive it.

In order to facilitate the flow of the ash out of the water-chamber, a stirrer, which consists of a number of blades m, aflixed to the bottom of shaft '22, is rotated on the bottom of the water-chamber, which stirs up the ash and causes it to flow freely. The shaft extends through the partition D to the opening in the carbid-chamber, and a wrench can be placed thereon to rotatethe stirrer. After the water and ash have been removed from the chamber the port in the bottom thereof is closed, leverZ being provided with a spring-pressed toothed detent 0, which engages with the leg 19 of the water-chamber to hold the gate' firmly in place to close the port. The water-chamber is refilled with the required quantity of water through pipe 1, affixed to the side thereof, whose cap r is removed for that purpose and which cap is put back as soon as the chamber has been refilled. The top of this fillingpipe is on a line with the required height of water in the water-chamber, so that only the required quantity of water maybe fed thereinto. As soon as the carbid-chamber is recharged the cover thereof is replaced, and the machine is again ready for use. If the gasin the holder becomes exhausted before the carbid-chamber is refilled, it will be necessary to disconnect lever T from link S before refilling the carbid-chamber in order that the gate which governs the admission of carbid into the water-chamber may be closed. The chamber may now be refilled with carbid and closed. The lever Kis then operated by hand to generate a small quantity of gas to cause the gas-holder to rise and carry its contact-arm out of engagement with lever T, which may then be connected to link S, and thereafter the production of gas is automatically regulated.

The contact-arm which engages the lever T consists of a portion W, which is rigidly secured to the gas-holder, and a depending portion V, which is adjustably connected with the rigid portion, so that the engagement of the contact-arm with lever T may be made to occur at a higher or lower elevation of the gas-holder,and thereby regulate the quantity of gas contained therein.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The combination with a gas-generator comprising a receptacle for the material provided with inlet and outlet apertures and removable means for closing the apertures, of a water-chamber provided with a dischargeorifice, a gate for normally closing the orifice, a pivoted lever secured to the gate, a rack carried by the lever, and means engaged by the rack for retaining the lever and gate in any one of its adjusted positions.

2. The combination, with a gas-generator comprising an apertu red receptacle,and a water-chamber, of a gate for normally closing the aperture, a lever secured to the gate and projecting outside the generator, a weighted link secured to the lever, a second lever attached to the free end of the link, a gas-receiver, a gas-bell received therein, abase secured to the bell and a contact-arm adjustably secured to the bell,the contact-arm adapted to engage the second lever whereby to operate the gate.

3. The combination with a generator, of a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a lever pivotally supported intermediate its length, a gate carried by the lever and adapted to normally close the outlet-port, a pivoted rack secured to the lever at that end opposite the gate and means tending to normally throw the rack into engagement with a suitable stop.

4. The combination with a generator, of an apertured receptacle, a gate for closing the aperture, a pivotally-mounted lever secured to the gate and projecting outside the generator, a weight secured to the outer end of the lever, a gas-receiver, a gas-bell located therein,a member pivotally mounted upon the stationary gas-receiver, a link connecting the member with the lever, and a contactadjustably secured to the movable gas-bell, the contact adapted to engage the free end of .the pivoted member to open the gate.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of September, 1902.

FRANCIS M. CALEB. Witnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM,

HENRY T. HAZARD.

ICC 

